3 February 2007

Reserve Division One

Harold Wood 3 Epping 1

A disappointing result in a game the side would like to forget.

Playing on a pitch that resembled a farmers field for the cows to graze on rather  than one that should be allowed to have Intermediate level of football played on it the Epping side struggled to come to terms with the conditions and were never in the swing of things during the first period. Despite the visitors inability to play their style of neat football they had the best two chances one falling to Pete Beaumont and the other to Chris Bailey both being missed (or saved) . With the classy Webster playing well at the back Wood were restricted to long range efforts and with minutes remaining of the first half referee Shrewsbury awarded a dubious free kick twenty five yards out which the home side converted.  Having played to Woods strength during the first half the Epping side needed to refocus in the second.

From the kick off ,going up hill, Epping began to use the width and with Beaumont and Geraghty now flying it was only a matter of time before they equalised. A great run from Grey fed Beaumont whose brilliant cross was converted by Kelly. Kelly who once again provided a massive source of energy to the rest of his side deserved his goal for his unselfish running alongside the equally combative and hard working Chris Bailey. There was then a period of sustained period of Epping pressure during which they should have gone ahead. Then news of a break in at the changing rooms reached the Epping players.

At this point the young Epping side switched off and allowed the home side to gain control of the match scoring two badly defended goals in the last 15 minutes. A disappointing end to a game that that Epping could easily have won if they had managed to sustain their second half dominance. This experience will help the young side mature as the break in was a difficult thing to handle. What it does highlight is that the League need to look very closely at the facilities operated by some clubs. If they cannot provide protected  changing facilities they should provide security.

Scorer: Kelly